1. Variety Selection: Adapt to Climate and Planting Purpose
There are numerous pumpkin varieties. Selection should be based on the local climate, planting method (open-field/greenhouse), and purpose (flesh consumption/seed harvesting) to avoid low yields caused by mismatching varieties and the environment:
Selection by Climate
- Southern regions with high temperature and humidity: Choose varieties with strong disease resistance, such as "Miben Pumpkin" and "Niutui Pumpkin" (tolerant to heat and humidity, less prone to fruit rot).
- Northern regions with low temperature and short daylight: Select early-maturing varieties, such as "Beibei Pumpkin" and "Jingxin Pumpkin" (growth period: 70-80 days, able to avoid early frost).
- High-altitude regions with large temperature differences: Opt for local traditional pumpkin varieties with strong cold tolerance (high adaptability and plump seed kernels).
Selection by Purpose
- Seed harvesting as the main goal: Prioritize "seed-specific pumpkins" (e.g., "Xuebai Pumpkin" and "Hulless Pumpkin"). These varieties have more and larger seeds, with a 1000-seed weight of 200-250g and high oil yield.
- Both flesh and seed utilization: Choose "dual-purpose varieties for flesh and seeds", such as "Huanglang Pumpkin" and "Damopan Pumpkin" (soft flesh, and seeds are also edible).
2. Seed Treatment: Improve Germination Rate and Prevent Diseases
Pumpkin seeds have a hard outer shell. Direct sowing may result in slow germination or seed rot. Three pretreatment steps are required:
Seed Selection and Sun-Drying
- Sort out empty, shrunken, and insect-damaged seeds, retaining plump ones.
- Sun-dry the seeds for 1-2 days before sowing (avoid midday strong sunlight). Ultraviolet rays can sterilize the seeds, break seed dormancy, and improve germination potential (germination rate can increase by 10%-15% after sun-drying).
Seed Soaking and Germination Acceleration (Key Step)
- Routine seed soaking: Soak seeds in 55ºC warm water (not scalding to the touch) for 15-20 minutes (stir continuously to prevent scalding), then transfer to room-temperature water for 4-6 hours to ensure seeds absorb sufficient water (water absorption reaches approximately 50% of their own weight).
- Disinfectant soaking (mandatory in disease-prone areas): If pumpkin blight and anthracnose are severe locally, first soak seeds in 1000x dilution of carbendazim or 500x dilution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and then proceed with routine soaking to prevent seed-borne diseases.
- Germination acceleration: After soaking, remove seeds, wrap them in a damp gauze, and place in an environment of 25-30ºC (e.g., a constant-temperature incubator or near a heating radiator). Rinse with clean water once a day. Sowing can be done when 80% of the seeds show white sprouts (radicle length: 0.5-1cm) (avoid excessively long sprouts, which are prone to breaking).
Soil Preparation: Loose, Permeable, and Sufficient Base Fertilizer
Pumpkins have a well-developed root system (taproot can reach 2m deep). Select well-drained, deep loam or sandy loam (clay soil needs to be improved by mixing with sand to avoid waterlogging and root rot). The previous crop should not be cucurbits (e.g., cucumbers, watermelons) to reduce continuous cropping diseases.
- Soil preparation and fertilization: Deep plow the soil to 30-40cm 15-20 days in advance. Apply 2000-3000kg of decomposed organic fertilizer (e.g., chicken manure, sheep manure, to improve soil fertility) + 30-40kg of NPK compound fertilizer (15-15-15) per mu. Mix evenly and form ridges (for open-field planting: ridge height 20-30cm, ridge width 60-80cm, to prevent waterlogging in rainy seasons).
II. Sowing Stage: Control Temperature and Planting Density
1. Sowing Time: Avoid Low Temperatures to Ensure Germination
The minimum germination temperature for pumpkin seeds is 13ºC, and the optimal temperature is 25-30ºC. Determine the sowing time based on the local last frost date to avoid seed rot due to low temperatures:
- Open-field planting: Sow in late March-early April in southern regions (e.g., the Yangtze River Basin) (after the last frost, when soil temperature stabilizes above 15ºC); sow in late April-early May in northern regions (e.g., North China) (soil temperature ≥15ºC, to avoid late spring cold).
- Greenhouse planting: Sowing can be advanced by 15-20 days (late February in the south, mid-March in the north). Greenhouses provide insulation, shortening the growth cycle and enabling early harvesting.
2. Sowing Method: Appropriate Depth to Avoid Fertilizer Burn
Direct Sowing (Common in Open-Field Planting)
- Dig holes on the ridges, with a depth of 3-5cm (excessive depth slows germination; insufficient depth leads to drought susceptibility). Sow 2-3 sprouted seeds per hole, place seeds flat (radicles facing downward for easier rooting), cover with 2-3cm of fine soil, gently compact, and water thoroughly (without waterlogging).
- If low temperatures occur after sowing, cover with plastic film for insulation (promptly cut holes in the film to release seedlings after germination to avoid scalding).
Seedling Transplantation (Recommended, Especially in Northern Regions)
- Use nutrient pots (8-10cm in diameter) or seedling trays for raising seedlings. The substrate ratio is "peat soil + vermiculite + decomposed organic fertilizer = 6:3:1". Sow 1 sprouted seed per pot, cover with 2cm of soil, and control the seedling temperature at 20-25ºC.
- Transplant when seedlings have 2-3 true leaves (seedling age: 20-25 days) and there is no risk of frost. Transplant with soil clumps (to protect roots and accelerate seedling establishment). Apply a small amount of decomposed organic fertilizer in the planting holes (avoid direct contact with roots to prevent fertilizer burn).
3. Planting Density: Reasonable Spacing to Avoid Excessive Vine Growth
Pumpkins have vigorous vines. Excessive density causes poor ventilation and light penetration, increasing disease incidence. Determine density based on variety characteristics:
- Ground-crawling planting (no trellis): For large varieties (e.g., Damopan Pumpkin), plant at a spacing of 1.5-2m and row spacing of 2-2.5m, with 150-200 plants per mu. For small varieties (e.g., Beibei Pumpkin), plant at a spacing of 1-1.2m and row spacing of 1.5-2m, with 250-300 plants per mu.
- Trellis planting (space-saving): For small-to-medium varieties, build trellises 1.5-2m high. Plant at a spacing of 0.8-1m and row spacing of 1.2-1.5m, with 350-400 plants per mu. Guiding vines onto trellises improves ventilation and light penetration, resulting in plumper seeds.
III. Growth Stage: Core Field Management Practices
1. Water and Fertilizer Management: "Control in Early Stages, Promote in Later Stages" to Avoid Excessive Vine Growth
Pumpkins are drought-tolerant but waterlogging-sensitive. Adjust water and fertilizer application according to growth stages, focusing on "controlling fertilizer in the seedling stage, supplementing fertilizer in the flowering stage, and applying heavy fertilizer in the fruit expansion stage":
- Seedling stage (germination to 4-5 true leaves): Apply little water and no fertilizer to avoid excessive seedling growth (water lightly only if the soil is dry). If seedlings turn yellow, spray with 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution once to supplement nutrients.
- Vine extension stage (vines 30-50cm long): Apply "vine-promoting fertilizer" once. Apply 1000kg of decomposed farmyard manure + 10kg of urea per mu by digging furrows along the ridges (15cm away from roots to avoid fertilizer burn), and water once to promote vine growth. After this stage, do not water unless the soil is dry until flowering to prevent excessive vine growth from affecting fruiting.
- Flowering and fruit expansion stages (after fruiting to fruit ripening):
- Flowering stage: Spray leaves with 0.3% boron fertilizer + 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution to improve fruiting rate. Pumpkin flowers are unisexual and rely on insects for pollination. For greenhouse planting or rainy weather during flowering, perform artificial pollination: between 8-10 am, pick male flowers, remove petals, and apply pollen to female stigmas (one male flower can pollinate 3-5 female flowers).
- Fruit expansion stage: 7-10 days after fruiting, apply "fruit-expanding fertilizer". Apply 25-30kg of NPK compound fertilizer (10-20-20) + 10kg of potassium sulfate per mu to promote fruit expansion and seed development. Ensure sufficient water during this stage (soil moisture: 60%-70%), but avoid waterlogging (drain promptly after rain to prevent fruit rot).
2. Vine Pruning and Training: Control Nutrient Consumption to Focus on Fruit Development
Pumpkins have strong branching ability. Unpruned vines lead to scattered nutrients, fewer and smaller fruits. Adjust pruning methods based on varieties:
- Single-vine pruning (suitable for dense planting and small varieties): Retain only the main vine, remove all side vines, and pinch the top growth point when the main vine reaches 2-3m to promote fruiting on the middle and lower parts of the main vine (usually retain female flowers at nodes 10-15; early fruiting at lower nodes results in small fruits and few seeds).
- Double-vine pruning (suitable for medium-to-large varieties and ground-crawling planting): Pinch the top of the main vine when it has 5-6 true leaves, retain 2 robust side vines, and keep 1-2 fruits per side vine. Remove all other side vines and tendrils to reduce nutrient consumption.
- Vine pressing and guiding: For ground-crawling planting, start pressing vines (use soil clods to fix vines to the ground) when the main vine reaches 60-80cm, repeating every 30-40cm to promote adventitious root growth and enhance nutrient absorption. For trellis planting, guide vines onto trellises promptly to avoid tangling and ensure ventilation.
3. Fruit Retention and Thinning: Ensure Fruit and Seed Quality
To harvest high-quality pumpkin seeds, retain and thin fruits reasonably to prevent poor seed development due to excessive fruits:
- Fruit retention quantity: Retain 2-3 fruits per plant for small varieties (e.g., Beibei Pumpkin) and 1-2 fruits per plant for medium-to-large varieties. Thin out malformed, diseased, and excessive young fruits to concentrate nutrients on retained fruits.
- Fruit retention position: Prioritize female flowers at nodes 10-15 of the main vine and nodes 5-8 of side vines. Fruits in these positions develop fully with plump seeds. Fruits at lower nodes (before node 5 of the main vine) are small with few seeds and should be thinned out.
IV. Pest and Disease Control: Prevention-Oriented, Green Management
Common pumpkin pests and diseases include "powdery mildew, downy mildew, aphids, and melon worms". Preventive measures should be taken in advance to avoid pesticide residues affecting seed quality:
Disease Control
- Powdery mildew (white powdery spots on leaves): In the early stage of infection, spray with 25% triadimefon wettable powder (1500x dilution) or 40% tebuconazole suspension (3000x dilution) once every 7-10 days for 2-3 consecutive sprays.
- Downy mildew (yellow spots on leaves with mold on the back): Spray with 72% cymoxanil-mancozeb wettable powder (800x dilution) or 64% oxadixyl-mancozeb wettable powder (500x dilution). Respray promptly after rain.
- Key prevention measures: Maintain reasonable density, avoid waterlogging, and regularly remove old and diseased leaves to improve ventilation (reducing humidity helps prevent diseases).
Pest Control
- Aphids (suck leaf sap and transmit viral diseases): Spray with 10% imidacloprid wettable powder (2000x dilution) or 2.5% deltamethrin EC (3000x dilution).
- Melon worms (larvae bore into leaves and fruits): Spray with 5% chlorantraniliprole suspension (1500x dilution) or 20% emamectin benzoate-indoxacarb suspension (2000x dilution) when larvae are in the 3rd instar (before boring into fruits). Focus on spraying the back of leaves and around fruits.
- Physical control: Hang yellow sticky boards to trap aphids (20-30 boards per mu, 1.2m above the ground) or install frequency-vibration insecticidal lamps to trap moth pests (reducing egg-laying of melon worm adults).
Note: Pesticide application is prohibited within 20 days before seed harvesting to ensure no pesticide residues in seeds.
V. Harvesting Stage: Seize the Timing to Ensure Seed Maturity
Pumpkin seeds must be harvested when fruits are fully mature to ensure germination rate and plumpness:
Maturity Judgment
- The fruit rind hardens and turns to the variety-specific color (e.g., yellow, orange). The fruit stem becomes lignified with cracks at the base. Tapping the fruit produces a dull "thud" sound, indicating seeds are mature.
Harvesting and Seed Extraction
- After harvesting, place fruits in a cool, ventilated area for post-ripening for 7-10 days (to fully plump seeds). Cut open fruits, remove seeds, and rinse them in clean water to remove mucus from the seed coat.
- Spread seeds in a cool, ventilated area to dry (avoid direct sunlight to prevent seed cracking and oil leakage, which affects germination rate). Store or sow seeds when their moisture content drops below 8% (seeds feel crisp and hard when bitten).
Summary
The core logic of pumpkin seed planting is "adapting to the environment, controlling excessive growth to promote fruiting, and ensuring maturity while preventing pests and diseases".
- In the early stage: Select the right variety and pretreat seeds properly.
- In the middle stage: Control water, fertilizer, and vine growth.
- In the later stage: Ensure pollination and fruit maturity, and prevent pests and diseases throughout the process.
Particular attention should be paid to: avoiding low-temperature sowing in the north, preventing waterlogging in the south, and focusing on fertilizer application during the fruit expansion stage and fruit post-ripening for seed-specific varieties to achieve high seed plumpness and germination rate.
Product Parameters
| Detail information |
Early ripen,
Fruit growing period :about 28days;
Central sugar content 18%
Weight:.1kgs
|
Packaging & Shipping
Company Profile
Jiangxi Yuefeng Seed Industry Co., Ltd. is a high-start, high-tech vegetable seed company mainly focusing on pepper and cowpea,melon seeds. It is a private enterprise with the right to import and export seeds issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. Backed by its excellent talents, abundant domestic and foreign resources, breeding methods, standardized seed production bases and strict quality control procedures, the company actively participates in the seed market.
Stick to quality create value! In more than 10 years of experience , we know that the lifeblood of seed companies lies in variety quality and good market channel control. The company will strictly control these two ways, seek development with integrity, and grow with service, adhering to the business philosophy of" Helping customers generate revenue", and focus on only promoting superior vegetable varieties.
Our Advantages
We have more than 1,000 acres of science and technology demonstration parks. And we try plant new varieties every year, and the feedback in the market is very good.
After Sales Service
When customers try planting, we will provide professional technical guidance from time to time.
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